An Brief Introduction to

Materials Science and Engineering

Elaine D. Haberer

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

History of Materials Science & Engineering

materials closely connected our culture
the development and advancement of societies are dependent on the available
materials and their use
early civilizations designated by level of materials development

initially natural materials

develop techniques to produce materials with superior qualities (heat treatments
and addition of other substances)
July 24, 2007

MATERIALS
ModelsSELECTION!
& Materials

Materials Science and Engineering

structure

arrangement of internal components

subatomic
atomic
microscopic
macroscopic (bulk)

characterization
properties

processing
method of preparing
material

performance
behavior in a
particular application

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

material characteristic
response to external
stimulus
mechanical, electrical,
thermal, magnetic,
optical, deteriorative

Classification of Materials
Metals

Ceramics & Glasses

Polymers

good conductors of
electricity and heat
lustrous appearance
susceptible to
corrosion
strong, but
deformable

thermally and
electrically insulating
resistant to high
temperatures and
harsh environments
hard, but brittle

very large molecules

low density, low weight
maybe extremely
flexible

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Classification of Materials: A Few Additional Catagories

Biomaterials

Semiconductors

Composites

implanted in human
body
compatible with
body tissues

electrical properties
between conductors
and insulators
electrical properties
can be precisely
controlled

consist of more than

one material type
designed to display
a combination of
properties of each
component

hip replacement
July 24, 2007

Intel Pentium 4
Models & Materials

fiberglass surfboards

Why study materials?

applied scientists or engineers must make material choices

materials selection
in-service performance
deterioration
economics

BUTreally, everyone makes material choices!

aluminum

July 24, 2007

glass

Models & Materials

plastic

Choice of Medium

medium: wood
Wood is a natural material that ties the
indoors to the outdoors when it is usedA
project is a creative 3 dimensional design
processYou don't need a huge shop
space or heavy duty metal working
machine tools.
George J. Haberer
July 24, 2007

medium: pastels
I love this rather dirty, dusty medium.
Most important factor is that I keep the
work behind my bedroom door and in the
trunk of my car. Where could I have put
all the canvases???
Jacqueline M. Haberer

Models & Materials

structure

properties

processing

performance

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Levels of Structure
structure

properties

processing
performance

STRUCTURE (length scale)

< 0.2 nm

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Metals
Metallic Bond
one, two, or three valence electrons
valence electrons free to drift through the
entire material forming a sea of electrons
surrounding net positive ionic cores
non-directional bond

sea of electrons

ionic
cores

Properties
good conductors of
electricity and heat
lustrous appearance
susceptible to
corrosion
strong, but
deformable

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Ceramics and Glasses

Coulombic bonding force

Ionic Bond
composed of metallic and non-metallic elements
metallic elements give up valence electrons to
non-metallic elements
all atoms have filled inert gas configuration
ionic solid
non-directional bond

+
+

+
+

Ceramics & Glasses

thermally and
electrically insulating
resistant to high
temperatures and
harsh environments
hard, but brittle

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Polymers
Covalent Bond
electrons are shared between adjacent
atoms, each contributing at least one
electron
shared electrons belong to both atoms
directional bond

shared electron
from hydrogen

shared electron
from carbon

methane (CH4)

Polymers
very large molecules
low density, light
weight materials
maybe extremely
flexible

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Levels of Structure
structure

properties

processing
performance

STRUCTURE (length scale)

< 0.2 nm
1 nm = ?

July 24, 2007

0.2-10 nm

Models & Materials

Atomic Arrangement: Ordered vs. Disordered

Crystalline:
atoms are arranged in a 3D, periodic array giving the material long range order
stacking can effect
properties (i.e.
ductility)
anisotropic materials

hexagonal close-packed

Non-crystalline or amorphous:
atoms only have short-range, nearest neighbor order
viscous materials (generally complex formulas) or rapid
cooling
isotropic materials

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Levels of Structure
structure

properties

processing
performance

STRUCTURE (length scale)

< 0.2 nm
1 nm = ?

July 24, 2007

0.2-10 nm

1-1000 m

Models & Materials

Microstructure
Single Crystal

Polycrystalline

the periodic arrangement of atoms

extends throughout the entire
sample
difficult to grow, environment must
be tightly controlled
anisotropic materials

many small crystals or grains

small crystals misoriented with
respect to on another
several crystals are initiated and
grow towards each other
anisotropic or isotropic materials

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Levels of Structure
structure

properties

processing
performance

STRUCTURE (length scale)

< 0.2 nm
1 nm = ?

July 24, 2007

0.2-10 nm

1-1000 m

Models & Materials

> 1 mm

Bulk Properties
Mechanical:
elastic modulus
shear modulus
hardness

Electrical:
conductivity
resistivity
capacitance
+

Optical:
reflectivity
absorbance
emission

July 24, 2007

Thermal:
thermal expansion
heat capacity
thermal conductivity

Models & Materials

Processing Structure Properties Performance

Performance Goal: increased strength from a metallic material
In actuality, crystals are NOT perfect. There are defects!
In metals, strength is determined by how easily defects can move!
OFF

slow cooling

quenching
July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Processing Structure Properties Performance

Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3)

single-crystal
(transparent)

July 24, 2007

polycrystalline,
fully dense
(translucent)

polycrystalline,
5% porosity
(opaque)

Models & Materials

Characterization Techniques
structure

characterization
properties

processing
performance

STRUCTURE (length scale)

< 0.2 nm
1 nm = ?

July 24, 2007

0.2-10 nm

1-1000 m

Models & Materials

> 1 mm

Optical Microscopy
light is used to study the microstructure
opaque materials use reflected light,
where as transparent materials can use
reflected or transmitted light

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Electron Microscopy

beams of electrons are used for imaging

electrons are accelerated across large voltages
a high velocity electron has a wavelength of about 0.003 nm
the electron beam is focused and images are formed using magnetic lenses
reflection and transmission imaging are both possible

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

an electron beam scans the surface and
the reflected (backscattered) electrons
are collected
sample must be electrically conductive
material surface is observed
200,000x magnification possible

July 24, 2007

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

an electron beam passes through the
material
thin samples
details of internal microstructure
observed
1,000,000x magnification possible

Models & Materials

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM)

3D topographical map of material
surface
probe brought into close proximity of
material surface
probe rastered across the surface
experiencing deflection in response to
interactions with the material surface
useful with many different types of
materials

SPM image of a butterfly wing.

July 24, 2007

Animation of SPM on epitaxial silicon.

SPM image of silica coated

gold nanoparticles.

Models & Materials

SPM image of 70 nm photoresist lines.

X-ray Diffraction
x-rays are a form of light that has high
energy and short wavelength
when x-rays strike a material a portion of
them are scattered in all directions
if the atoms in the material is crystalline
or well-ordered constructive interference
can order

Intensity

Braggs Law: 2d sin = n

Diffraction angle 2

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Case Studies

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Clay
aluminosilicate: combination of alumina
(Al2O3) and silica (SiO2) that bind water
melting temperature of alumina > silica
layered crystalline structure: kaolinite
(Al2Si2O5(OH)4)
water fits between layers
clay has three main ingredients:
(1) clay
(2) quartz (cheap filler material)
(3) flux (lowers melting temperature)
Forming:
hydroplastic
forming
slipcasting

July 24, 2007

Drying:
shrinkage
material becomes
brittle

Models & Materials

water
O
Al
O
Si
O

Clay (cont.)
Firing:
firing temperature, 900-1400oC (1650-2550oF)
permanent physical and chemical changes
fuses or melts over large temperature range
desired shaped is retained
shrinkage due to removal of bound water
Sintering:
bonds start to form between particles
particles are fused into a very porous solid
melting has not yet occured

July 24, 2007

Vitrification:
flux lowers quartz melting temperature
quartz particles begin to melt and pull silica
out of clay matrix
silicates form increasing the viscosity of the
melt
remaining alumina rich clay particles have
higher melting temperature
final structure: alumina rich particles in
silicate glass matrix

Models & Materials

Polymer Clay (Sculpey, FIMO)

polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
long chain or high molecular weight polymer
thermoplastic: polymer that melts to a liquid
when heated and freezes to a brittle, glassy
state when cooled
as-purchased a plasticizer is added to keep clay
malleable
heating the clay decomposes the plasticizer
hardening the clay

without plasticizer: polymer clay is brittle at room temperature

with plasticizer: polymer clay is malleable at room temperature

- the plasticizer acts as a lubricant putting space between chains and
allowing them to slide passed each other

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Metal Foil Embossing

polycrystalline metal sheet

relatively isotropic in-plane
ductile material
embossing process: plastic or non-recoverable,
permanent deformation
during embossing bonds are broken with
original neighboring atoms and reformed with
new neighbors
yield strength: stress required to produce a very
slight deformation
metals a can generally only support 0.5%
elongation before plastic deformation occurs
materials choice important

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

Metal Alloy

Yield Strength (MPa)

Aluminum

35

Copper

69

Iron

130

Steel

180

Titanium

450

Summary

metal

ceramic

polymer

wood

structure

properties

processing

performance
July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

pastels

July 24, 2007

Models & Materials